Anatomy & Physiology Lab Study Guide: Terminology, Organ Systems, Tissues, Skeleton, and Joints

Week 1: Anatomical Terminology and Safety

Lab Safety and Procedures

Understanding and practicing lab safety is essential for all Anatomy & Physiology students. Familiarize yourself with lab rules and complete any required safety documentation before beginning lab work.

• Lab Safety Procedures: Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), follow instructions, and report any accidents immediately.

• Lab Safety Acknowledgement: Sign and submit the safety sheet as required.

Anatomical Terminology

Accurate use of anatomical terms is crucial for describing locations, positions, and relationships of body structures.

• Surface Anatomy Terms: Refer to specific regions of the body (e.g., cephalic for head, axillary for armpit).

• Anatomical Position: The standard reference position for the body: standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

• Body Planes and Sections:

  • Frontal (coronal) plane: Divides body into anterior and posterior parts.

  • Sagittal plane: Divides body into left and right parts.

  • Transverse plane: Divides body into superior and inferior parts.

  • Oblique plane: Cuts at an angle.

• Body Cavities:

  • Dorsal body cavity: Contains cranial and vertebral cavities.

  • Ventral body cavity: Contains thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

  • Thoracic cavity: Houses heart and lungs.

  • Abdominopelvic cavity: Contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

  • Pericardial cavity: Surrounds the heart.

• Orientation/Direction Terms:

  • Superior/Inferior: Above/below.

  • Ventral/Dorsal: Front/back.

  • Medial/Lateral: Toward/away from midline.

  • Proximal/Distal: Nearer/farther from point of attachment.

  • Superficial/Deep: Toward/away from body surface.

• Abdominopelvic Quadrants:

  • Right upper quadrant

  • Left upper quadrant

  • Right lower quadrant

  • Left lower quadrant

• Abdominopelvic Regions:

  • Right/left hypochondriac

  • Epigastric

  • Right/left lumbar

  • Umbilical

  • Right/left iliac (inguinal)

  • Hypogastric (pubic)

Week 2: Organ Systems, Microscopy, and Cell Structure

Organ Systems Overview

The human body is organized into organ systems, each with specific functions and major organs.

• Major Organ Systems: Examples include cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems.

• Major Organs: Heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, intestines, bladder, uterus, ovaries, testes, etc.

Microscope Use and Calculations

Microscopy is essential for studying cells and tissues. Understanding the parts and functions of the microscope is fundamental.

• Parts of the Microscope: Eyepiece, objective lenses, stage, coarse/fine focus, light source.

• Proper Technique: Always start with the lowest magnification, use coarse focus first, then fine focus.

• Calculations:

  • Total Magnification: $\text{Total Magnification} = \text{Objective Magnification} \times \text{Eyepiece Magnification}$

  • Working Distance: Distance between objective lens and specimen.

  • Field Size: Diameter of the visible area under the microscope.

  • Object Size: Can be estimated using field size and proportion.

Cell Structure Identification

Cells contain various organelles, each with specific functions.

• Plasma membrane: Outer boundary of the cell.

• Mitochondrion: Site of ATP production.

• Ribosome: Protein synthesis.

• Golgi apparatus: Modifies and packages proteins.

• Endoplasmic reticulum (smooth/rough): Lipid synthesis/protein synthesis.

• Lysosome: Digests cellular waste.

• Centrioles: Cell division.

• Vacuole: Storage.

• Nucleus: Contains genetic material.

• Nucleolus: Ribosome production.

• Chromatin: DNA and protein complex.

• Nuclear envelope: Surrounds nucleus.

Cell Division: Mitosis

Mitosis is the process by which cells divide to produce identical daughter cells.

• Prophase: Chromosomes condense, spindle forms.

• Metaphase: Chromosomes align at the cell equator.

• Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate.

• Telophase: Nuclear envelopes reform.

Classification of Epithelial Tissues

Epithelial tissues are classified by cell shape and number of layers.

• Simple squamous epithelium: Single layer, flat cells.

• Simple cuboidal epithelium: Single layer, cube-shaped cells.

• Simple columnar epithelium: Single layer, tall cells.

• Pseudostratified columnar epithelium: Appears layered, but all cells touch basement membrane.

• Stratified squamous epithelium: Multiple layers, flat cells at surface.

• Transitional epithelium: Multiple layers, cells change shape (e.g., bladder).

Week 3: Connective Tissues and Integumentary System

Classification of Connective Tissues

Connective tissues support, bind, and protect organs.

• Areolar connective tissue: Loose, supports organs.

• Adipose connective tissue: Stores fat.

• Dense regular (white fibrous) CT: Strong, found in tendons.

• Bone connective tissue: Rigid, supports body.

• Blood connective tissue: Transports substances.

• Fibrocartilage connective tissue: Tough, found in intervertebral discs.

The Integumentary System

The integumentary system includes the skin and its derivatives, providing protection and sensory functions.

• Structures: Epidermis, dermis, hair shaft/root/follicle, sebaceous gland, sweat gland, arrector pili muscle, tactile corpuscles, lamellar corpuscles, vein, artery, lymph vessel, adipose tissue.

• Epidermal Layers:

  • Stratum corneum

  • Stratum lucidum

  • Stratum granulosum

  • Stratum spinosum

  • Stratum basale

Microscopic Skin Structures

• Skin with hair: Scalp, hair follicle, sebaceous gland.

• Dermis: Contains tactile and lamellar corpuscles.

Overview of the Skeleton: Cartilage and Bone Structure

Bones and cartilage provide structure and support. Cartilage types include hyaline, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage, each found in specific body locations.

Week 4: Bones and Landmarks

Cranial and Facial Bones

Identification of bones and their landmarks is essential for understanding skeletal anatomy.

Cranial Bones	Landmarks
Frontal bone	Glabella, supraorbital foramen
Parietal bone	Sagittal suture, coronal suture
Temporal bone	Mandibular fossa, mastoid process, styloid process
Occipital bone	Foramen magnum, occipital condyle
Sphenoid bone	Optic canal, sella turcica

Facial Bones	Landmarks
Mandible	Condylar process, mental foramen
Maxillary bone	Alveolar process, infraorbital foramen
Palatine bone	Palatine process

Vertebral Column

Bones	Landmarks
Vertebra	Transverse process, spinous process, vertebral foramen, body
Cervical vertebrae	Atlas, axis, dens
Thoracic vertebrae
Lumbar vertebrae
Sacrum
Coccyx

Thorax and Shoulder Girdle

Bones	Landmarks
Sternum	Manubrium, body, xiphoid process
Ribs	True, false, floating
Clavicle	Spine, acromion, coracoid process, glenoid cavity
Scapula

Arm and Forearm

Bones	Landmarks
Humerus	Head, greater/lesser tubercle, capitulum, trochlea, medial/lateral epicondyle, olecranon fossa
Ulna	Olecranon, trochlear notch, styloid process
Radius	Radial tuberosity, styloid process, ulnar notch

Hand

• Carpals: Scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate

• Metacarpals

• Phalanges (proximal, middle, distal)

Week 5: Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limb

Pelvic Girdle

Bones	Landmarks
Coxal bone (os coxae)	Acetabulum, auricular surface, iliac crest, pubic symphysis, obturator foramen, sacroiliac joint, anterior superior iliac spine
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis

Thigh, Leg, and Foot

Bones	Landmarks
Femur	Head, neck, greater/lesser trochanter, medial/lateral condyle, medial/lateral epicondyle, linea aspera
Tibia	Tibial tuberosity, medial/lateral condyle, medial malleolus
Fibula	Lateral malleolus
Tarsals	Talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuneiforms, cuboid
Metatarsals
Phalanges

Week 6: Articulations and Body Movements

Classification of Joints

Joints are classified by structure and function.

• Fibrous Joints: Joined by fibrous tissue, no joint cavity.

  • Suture: Skull

  • Syndesmosis: Distal end of tibia and fibula

  • Gomphosis: Teeth in mandible/maxilla

• Cartilaginous Joints: Joined by cartilage, no joint cavity.

  • Symphysis: Pubic symphysis

  • Synchondrosis: First rib with sternum

• Synovial Joints: Freely movable, joint cavity present.

  • Hinge joint: Elbow

  • Pivot joint: Atlantoaxial joint

  • Condyloid joint: Radiocarpal joint

  • Ball and socket joint: Shoulder, hip

  • Saddle joint: 1st metacarpal and trapezium

Week 7: Lab Practical Exam

Review all previous topics for the lab practical exam, including anatomical terminology, organ systems, tissues, bones, and joints.

Additional info:

• Some content was expanded for clarity and completeness, including definitions and examples.

• Tables were recreated to summarize bones and landmarks as per the syllabus structure.